On November 2, 2021, the jurors got the case. Gloria Matthews: Everywhere we went I was always looking for her I always had hope that I would find her. Jim Matthews: Whoever did it, tried to rake their footprints. Kelly Werthmann: People were ready. The Pankey family bounced around from state to state for a while. All right? Another family member took the stand to answer similar questions from Viorst, adding in some information about Pankey as a child. She loves presents. Former gov. candidate a focus in Jonelle Matthews cold case Jonelle Matthews' friends Darla Jentzsch and Deanna Ross remember growing up with Jonelle. Sakulenzki was the last to testify Tuesday. Barr did attest to his behavior being unusual when he decided to run for office on multiple occasions, because of his lack of experience. Mr. Pankey loves the limelight all of the statements that he has made about his culpability have been, 'I didn't do it,'" Viorst told "48 hours" correspondent Richard Schlesinger as he prepped for the trial. Pankey was arrested for the kidnapping and murder of Jonelle in Oct. 2020. I have nothing to hide.. Pankey, 71, is on trial for the second time for her kidnapping and murder. Last year, his first trial ended with a hung jury on the kidnapping and murder charges, but he was convicted for false reporting after he admitted to lying to law enforcement about the case during his testimony. Oct. 18When Steve Pankey's son was murdered in 2008, his ex-wife heard him say in front of the urn, "I hope God didn't allow this to happen because of Jonelle Matthews." Angela Hicks, Pankey's former spouse, took the stand for her second day of testimony Monday morning. The man, who tried to threaten Justice Brett Kavanaugh with his life, was arrested with the joint efforts of the U.S. Viorst said Hicks met with prosecutors and completed multiple interviews with police, but she never talked to him. WebPankey and Hicks lose their son In 2002, Hicks and Pankey finalized their divorce, and on July 4, 2008, their son Carl was murdered. STEVE PANKEY [to KMVT]: They searched this place, they took my laptop . Pankey might have thought better about running in Twin Falls. The big thing in policing now is DNA. Jennifer Mogensen: I don't know specifics. In 1999 he told the Idaho Supreme Court, after a conviction for once again causing a scene in a bank, that the conviction which was dismissed years later was in part an "attempt to force" him "to become an informant" in Jonelle's disappearance. STEVE PANKEY [to KMVT]: I contacted the Fort Collins FBI office. Pankey was found guilty in the murder of 12-year-old Jonelle Matthews in Greeley in 1984. Anthony Viorst: That's the kind of thing that's happened to Mr. Pankey over the years. "It began as a series of lies, and it got bigger and bigger over the years," Pankey told the jury. The attorney also told her she had to say what she reported to Olson in their 1989 interview while testifying on Wednesday, to create reasonable doubt in this case. And she got really concerned when she found a note in the trash. I mean . In a matter of days, the search was all over the news, but not because police were talking. Viorst and Hicks discussed Pankeys anti-establishment views, believing law enforcement was actively out to get him and having occasional run-ins with the police. The 71-year-old was a person of interest in the case over the course of three decades. In the video, Viorsts alternative suspect was accused of being the first person to tell different sources about this unknown information not available to the public. As per reports, the 14-year-old was kidnapped and reportedly killed somewhere in Greeley, Colorado. And even President Ronald Reagan got involved. Anthony Viorst: It has nothing to do with this case. But denied he was obsessed with the news. Police might have been closer to an answer than they knew. Mayor John Gates: The most strong evidence to me is the way Mr. Pankey conducted himself from the time this happened up until his indictment. yes, I remember meeting him. However, no DNA evidence was extracted from it, making the evidence against Pankey circumstantial. After an Aug. 13, 2013, phone call with the suspect, he still did not make a report, but Viorst said Olson wasnt in charge of investigating Pankey. There were no fingerprints and if there was DNA, law enforcement was still several years from being able to analyze it. Despite 9:30 p.m. being the time Jonelles father arrived home to discover his daughter missing, Viorst indicated Drake could have left earlier than his mother reported. Mayor John Gates: It's not to me, ah, Richard. Her murder went unsolved for 35 years until they found her body in 2019. But Pankey has never been a man with clear answers. In a four-hour episode of the "Unfound" podcast recorded in November 2019, Pankey claims he was dating his accuser. Or was he one that just surrounded himself with strange, bizarre behavior for years? "48 Hours" interviewed Pankey's attorney Anthony Viorst as he was preparing for trial. GREELEY, CO OCTOBER 13: Murder suspect Steven Pankey, right, listens to testimony on the first day of his trial at Weld County District Court on October 13, 2020 in Pankey made an unusual witness in his own defense. They also testified this information was never made public. And I was an elementary principal. But there was no rest for the Matthews. Richard Schlesinger: Was Pankey questioned at all in the early days of this investigation? Prior to appearing in court Wednesday, Yost informed Viorst she had no desire to testify and felt like she didnt have anything to say that would make a difference in this case. Pankey says the morning after Jonelle disappeared, he and his family left Greeley for five days. "And one of the things notated in his handwriting on this piece of legal paper was snow outside the Matthews house was raked," she told jurors. Investigators searched the Matthews home, but the only physical evidence they found were shoeprints in the snow that someone had tried to eliminate with a garden rake. The other counts were were far more complex than that, in my opinion. That's when I started losing it. In total, he said the word rake 11 times, compared to Drake saying it twice, Wells said. Her whereabouts remained a mystery for more than 35 years until her remains were discovered in 2019. He was called to the scene. in my dreams she always came home. Hicks says on their way back to Greeley, Pankey insisted she turn on the radio. Hicks stated she does not remember if there was one car her husband drove more often than others. Ryan Horsley: He ran under the Constitutional Party. Hicks recalled feelings of her blood running cold when Pankey told her about trouble he had with the Sun Valley Police Department for not giving officers information he claimed to have about the missing girl in Greeley. STEVEN PANKEY: I had never imagined Angie would be as big a liar as I am. Its the new home of High Plains Bank in Wiggins. Kelly Werthmann: There were no signs of a struggle inside the Matthews home he could've been someone that Jonelle had either seen before She might've willingly opened the door, let him in; might've willingly gone with him if he had said "something happened to your family, come with me.". On the stand, Olson stated Francis account from the night Jonelle went missing was the only information that led to an open lead in the 1984 case. Andersen said he remembers the car being reddish, but he could not swear to this statement either. And he calls Detective Jack Stotler and he identifies himself as a ordained Baptist minister. Moroever, the case remained hanging for more than 35 years until the remains of the young girl were discovered in 2019. Viorst believed it was possible for Drake to have left directly after the show ended to commit the crimes against Jonelle. And, once again, he didn't come close to winning. The Statesman could not immediately verify that. The police and court records of what happened with the charges are no longer available. He is a political candidate run Top 10 Highest Paid Female Model In The World. And furthermore, Viorst told the jury that Pankey wasn't the only person who knew about those raked footprints. Pankey's ex-wife remembers him mentioning Jonelle So, Pankey said, he decided to speak publicly now, because of his concerns about law enforcements ideas about him, and because he is a public figure in light of his runs for office. And I think my jaw probably hit my desk, and I said, "What?". She made a correction to these statements during Wednesdays trial that he actually watched his adult neighbor, Susan. Richard Schlesinger: See, that's weird. When Pankey was near the urn, Sakulenzki recalled he said something, but she didnt remember the exact words he used. [Update] Steve Pankey has been arrested for the 1984 murder of It's exhausting. On those other counts, the actual murder charges, the jury deadlocked and could not come to a unanimous verdict. He was described as immature, hung out with a younger crowd and focused on partying. On Monday evening, the courtroom was adjourned and left off with Hicks testifying in tears over her ex-husbands comments about the Jonelle Matthews case. Nothing. Hicks reflected back to that moment, during her testimony, when she heard him say, I hope God didnt allow this to happen because of Jonelle Matthews.. Due to his business buying used cars and parts to sell to customers, Pankey would be in possession of several different cars. He claimed that he had contact with somebody who had information about Jonelle's disappearance. He said he was charged over his years in Colorado with as many as 20 other arbitrary misdemeanors, such as battery and harassment by phone, and went to trial multiple times. Hicks testified to Pankey forcing her to cut off communication with her own father, making her stay home with the kids and not letting her drive a car, in addition to other examples of his overbearing nature. Anthony Viorst: Mr. Pankey likes to talk. STEVE PANKEY [to KMVT]: I want to at least be on record that I talked to you, so I don't get possibly an obstruction of justice charge. Anthony Viorst: So, here's what I'll say It's our position that it was divulged by law enforcement. In 2020, Steven Pankey, who says he never met Jonelle, was charged with murder after repeatedly making public statements that inserted him into the case, including drawing up a list of persons of interest with his own name on it. He mentioned Jonelle in a speech about missing children. Around that same time, Steven Pankey, his young son and his wife, who was pregnant with their second son, also left Greeley. Steve Pankey trial: Ex-wife describes behavior You can't let this consume you. Before interviewing Drake on the record, Olson spoke with Drake, and he revealed he had knowledge about raked-over shoe prints in the backyard of the Matthews home the night Jonelle went missing. "And you always knew Jonelle was around [laughs]. Pankey, a 2014 Constitution Party candidate for governor who also ran in the 2018 Republican primary, disclosed the investigation this week in interviews with the Idaho Statesman. The trial starts back up at 8:30 a.m. Wednesday with a new witness on the stand. Steven Pankey Indictment in Jonelle Matthews Murder Update Kelly Werthmann is a reporter and anchor for Denver's CBS station, KCNC. I said listen, "I have been very honest, I've been accessible to you any time you wanted, but I'm getting sick of this because I am innocent.". STEVEN PANKEY: It was a polite way of flipping them the bird. With no real evidence of what happened to the 12-year-old, the case went cold. She further testified Viorst left her a voicemail saying she had to cooperate with him. When Viorst asked her if she felt he was threatening or rude in the more recent times the two have talked, Yost responded: Recently, youve been nicer.. He said he won all the trials. Richard Schlesinger: What was it like for you to be considered a suspect in your daughter's disappearance? The selection changes often, but if you love good Buying or selling a home is the largest financial investment most people ever make. They made headlines. He even mentioned them in a 2019 conversation, with investigators. WebThe Pankey family name was found in the USA, and the UK between 1840 and 1920. Judy Tygard is the executive producer. Steve Pankey Steve Pankey, person of interest in Colorado murder cold case The video showed Drake being questioned about his knowledge of the controlled evidence. vice presidents for enrollment management and Mayor John Gates: This is some of the most bizarre stuff I've ever heard, and I've been around the block. August 6, 2022 / 10:03 PM That, of course, doesn't exist. After prosecutors finished up their direct examination of Pankeys ex-wife Angela Hicks, defense attorney Anthony Viorst had his chance to speak with the witness on Tuesday. When police arrived, Lowery was still upstairs on the phone with 911. Mayor John Gates: I think that part might've fit into the no-brainer category. Since Jonelles disappearance, Pankey said, investigators have asked multiple times to talk to him about her. That night, Daviet and her brother Dave were home, while Drake borrowed Daves truck to go to his mothers house. Drake responded he had only seen her a few times and he most likely heard his mother make a comment about her being a mature girl for her age.. Lowery will never forget the moment police told her that her son Trevor had died. STEVE PANKEY [Idaho Statesman political ad]: I'm one of the people who wants to represent you. He had compulsions, including touching walls multiple times before he left the room and coming back to re-touch the walls, as well as pacing. Darla Jentzsch: I'm so fortunate that we were neighbors. Since Mark was freshly 5 years old during 1984, Assistant District Attorney Robb Miller questioned if his memories were reliable. It was updated on August 6.]. She explained her brother was upset Drake had not returned his truck before midnight, the time both siblings went to bed. Mayor John Gates: They were confirmed by the coroner to be those of Jonelle Matthews. Hicks also told Viorst she had phone troubles due to changes in 5G coverage in her area, and texts might not have gone through. Authorities searched a home in Twin Falls, Idaho. Great news for one of the cases featured on our podcast: Steve Pankey has been arrested for the 1984 murder of 12-year old Jonelle Matthews!https://t.co/sch2tDfjmy. He even agreed to a lie detector test, with an FBI agent. Jonelle Mathews left her home on December 20, 1984, and didn't return back ever again. And I heard on the car radio that a girl was missing from Greeley, Colorado. Steve Pankey During Statler's testimony, he indicated he received a call from Pankey three weeks after Jonelle's disappearance. KELLY WERTHMANN: Did you kill Jonelle Matthews? DA ROBERT MILLER: How long were you driving as you flipped stations looking for news stories about Jonelle Matthews? Richard Schlesinger: Pankey's defense lawyer told me that he thought his client might be mentally ill. A In 2019, Hicks and Pankey also had several phone calls throughout August in which her ex-husband requested her not to speak with police if they reached out about the Matthews case, Hicks said during her time on the stand. The trial for Steve Pankey, the 70-year-old man accused of kidnapping and murdering 12-year-old Jonelle Matthews in December 1984, began Wednesday with opening statements addressing his obsession with her case, his Aspergers condition and his confessions to involvement and knowledge surrounding her disappearance. Following a lengthy bench conference Tuesday, new evidence was introduced by Miller for a limited purpose that can be considered in regards to other factors, but cannot be considered in Pankeys conviction. White are the field producers. Who killed Jonelle Matthews? What her suspected killer Steve Pankey It was December 1984, just days before Christmas, when 12-year-old Jonelle Matthews disappeared from her family home in Greeley, Colorado. Mark said he spent time with his dad at least once per week before his arrest in 2020. He says Norris Drake, whose mother lived across the street from Jonelle, is the killer. Richard Schlesinger: Oh, to cover them up. So, the defense clearly has to prove, yes, he's an admitted liar but he's not lying now. Steve Pankey trial Day 11: Two of Pankeys family members Over the phone, Pankey said he was a pastor from a Baptist church. Russel Ross and Pastor James Christys names surfaced during the formation of Pankeys file. Once youre accused of something like date rape, youre forever stigmatized, he said. Carter served for the past three years as associate vice president of communications and institutional advancement at Triton College in River Grove, IL, where he oversaw development and implementation of the colleges mission, vision and three-year strategic plan.